FAISALABAD: Customs Adjudication Additional Collector Saima Aftab has declared the confiscation of Toyota Hilux as lawful as no one appeared before the authority to defend the allegations.
The vehicle bearing Registration No. LEE-13-236 was impounded by CIA staff following the charges that it was non-duty paid. After verification, it was also found that the registration number has been issued to a Honda Civic car by Lahore Motor Registration Authority.
The case was sent to Faisalabad senior civil judge who ordered to hand over the vehicle to the Faisalabad Customs. The customs authorities referred the case to adjudication where notice was issued to accused person named Ayaz Mehmood.
Meanwhile, no one appeared to defend the case from respondent side nor any written reply was filed by the respondent despite giving ample opportunities.
On the other hand, Senior Intelligence Officer Tahir Iqbal appeared from the prosecution side and asserted that seized vehicle fell under the ambit of Section 2(s) of the Customs Act 1969 and should by impounded.
Therefore, the additional collector issued Order-in-Original for outright confiscation of the seized vehicle in favour of federal government under Section 156(1)89(i) of the Customs Act, 1969.
